Overview

Objectives

At the end of the CAS, participants will have developed the relevant skills to design and adapt humanitarian strategies and projects related to AAP in line with the specificities of each context.

More specifically, participants will be able to:

  • Define AAP and relate it to other humanitarian values
  • Understand its philosophical and conceptual underpinnings in humanitarianism
  • Explain the origins of the concept of AAP and discuss its boundaries
  • Identify and juxtapose types of accountability (upward vs. downward; formal vs. informal, normative vs. operational etc.)
  • Argue on the primary and secondary expected outcomes of AAP
  • Differentiate the institutional ingredients of AAP
  • Understand how organisational cultures impact accountability mechanisms from the local to the global level
  • Plan and evaluate the AAP strategy in a humanitarian project
  • Appraise their project/organisation and team through the AAP lens
  • Formulate evaluation strategies and tools adapted to their project/organisation
  • Design recommendations useful for their project/organisation enhancing AAP in practice
  • Strengthen collective accountability between agencies

Audience

Professionals in the humanitarian, development or social sector looking to improve their provision of humanitarian assistance through accountability lenses.
Professionals from other sectors (private, academic, etc.) who wish to increase their understanding of the humanitarian field and develop their competence in accountability to affected people.

Programme

Module I: Accountability relations in the humanitarian sector

  • Week 1: What is Accountability to Affected People (AAP)?
  • Week 2: Accountability as a relationship
  • Week 3: Donor perspectives and advocacy
  • Week 4: The internal culture of accountability: leadership, organisational culture, certifications and standards

Module II: People-centred programming

  • Week 5: Elementary community structures
  • Week 6: People-centred approaches and localisation
  • Week 7: Collective accountability and area-based programming

Module III: Modalities and practices of AAP

  • Week 8: Communicating with communities
  • Week 9: Inclusion and diversity
  • Week 10: Reversing power relations in the humanitarian sector

CAS Assessment

  • Week 11: Preparing a final written assignment on an AAP-related dilemma or an AAP strategy
  • Week 12: Residential session in Nairobi, Kenya (30 March – 3 April2026 )

 

Registration

Registration deadline

7 December 2025

Fees:

  • Full price: CHF 5’000
  • Partner rate (MSF, ICRC, UNICEF, IOM): CHF 4’000 (20% discount) 
  • Special Rate for Government and NGO/CBO Staff: CHF 2’500 (50% discount). Available exclusively to staff from local and national NGOs, CBOs, and government employees in low/middle-income countries. Proof of local employment and salary required
  • Application form for partial tuition waivers

 

Admission criteria

  • a university qualification (bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
  • at least three years of relevant professional experience
  • excellent command of English*

*English Language Requirements

Please provide a proof of your English language level according to the following conditions:

(1) You are a native English speaker: please provide a copy of your passport.
(2) You have been working for at least five years in English with MSF or ICRC: please provide a copy of the English test you have undertaken internally with your employer.
(3) You do not meet the conditions (1) or (2): please provide an English language level certification. Please refer to our website for recognised tests and scores.

Number of participants

Maximum 20 candidates

Application File

  • Copy of identity document or passport 
  • Passport photo (.jpg format) 
  • Curriculum vitae 
  • Cover letter (explaining the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career) 
  • Copy of the highest educational qualification obtained 
  • Copy of Work certificates/official document from your current and the previous two job positions 
  • Proof of English language competence to be dated less than 2 years. Please refer to https://humanitarianstudies.ch/application/  
  • Two recent letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional) signed and with direct mention of the programme of your choice 
  • Employer's funding agreement (if applicable) 

More information about the application process is available on our application page.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. The Selection Committee examines the quality of the application and aims to reach a balance between the numbers of men and women, educational profile and professional experience, geographical distribution and financial contribution. 20 candidates maximum are selected each year.

Cancellation Policy

Please check our cancellation policy

Curriculum

Period

12 January 2026 - 3 April 2026

Credits

10 ECTS credits

Teaching hours

250 distance teaching hours
This certificate addresses the ambition of improving Accountability to Affected People (AAP) within the humanitarian sector. It discusses the components, conceptual underpinnings and practice of AAP in various contexts. It prepares participants to better realize the principle of accountability in their field of expertise, through familiarizing them with existing modalities and organizational practices of accountability and critically assessing these modalities’ promises and limitations.

Partnerships / Collaboration

Partnership

UNICEF
CAS Accountability to Affected People (AAP)

Testimonial

Zinnia Martínez, IOM (2025 course participant)

“For me, a highlight was sharing this course with people from around the world – listening to their practices and realizing that we face the same challenges. I especially cherished the module on community participation, which gave me tools, methodologies, and a mindset to truly work with communities from the beginning to the end of projects. I also learned from my colleagues how to do the best with few resources, which is our reality now more than ever. The best moment was finally meeting everyone in Africa – it was wonderful to have that space to connect and learn from each other.”

Testimonial

Shalini Prasad, UNICEF India (2025 course participant)

“This course presented an excellent opportunity to deepen my understanding of AAP’s core concepts, programming, coordination, and contextualization while also enabling me to transfer this learning to SBC and other program networks within UNICEF India. A key moment was the introduction of the People Centred Approaches! Over the past months, I have applied its key components, especially in Disaster Risk Management (DRM), advancing efforts to integrate AAP into system strengthening and capacity-building initiatives at national and state levels. It is a comprehensive course with a good mix of theory and application. The course coordinators and speakers/resource persons are excellent, and the enabling environment helps learning from the diverse experiences and backgrounds of participants.”

Testimonial

Jinan Ramadan, UNICEF Ukraine (2023 course participant)

“Working in the humanitarian sector for the past 10 years, I wanted to learn more about how to engage affected people in decision-making and make their voices heard. The course was very rich — the interactions with practitioners from around the globe and hearing live examples were extremely useful. I especially appreciated the focus on the Core Humanitarian Standards and the freedom the course offered in terms of thinking, which is often limited within agency frameworks. It was liberating and enlightening, shedding light on angles we might be taking for granted. Have faith in the power of change — this course truly encourages it.” 

Director(s)

Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, University of Geneva

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

FAQ